SOULFUL THERAPY
Brainspotting Therapy
Process and Release Traumatic Experiences
Process and Release Chronic Pain and Illness
Process Ancestral Trauma and Receive Wisdom
SOULFUL THERAPY
What Is Brainspotting?
Brainspotting Therapy™ (BSP) is a somatic and brain-based therapeutic approach that uses eye positions (brainspots) to help access and process unresolved experiences that are stored in the body and brain. This focused mindfulness approach targets the mid and deep brain (including the amygdala, hippocampus, basal ganglia, and brainstem) where these files of trauma and emotion are stored. By focusing on these brainspots, clients can access and process traumatic memories and emotional and physical pain that may otherwise be difficult to articulate or resolve through traditional talk therapy alone.
This method is unique because it bypasses the neocortex (the front part of the brain), where we think and analyze information, and goes directly to the subcortical brain, which is where trauma and strong emotions can be accessed, processed and released.
Brainspotting Applications:
Brainspotting is effective for a wide range of issues, including:
- Trauma
- PTSD
- Anxiety
- Grief
- Depression
- Panic Attacks
- Chronic Pain
- Substance Abuse
- Emotional regulation
- Life Transitions
- Performance Anxiety in Sports
- Creative Blocks
- Parts Work
- Generational Trauma
- Soul work and more.
Soulful Therapy can help you find healing and relief.
“Where You Look Affects How You Feel.”
-David Grand
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What Makes Brainspotting Unique?
There are several components invited into a Brainspotting session that make it unique and different than traditional therapy. This includes and is not limited to the following:
Dual Attunement Frame
The effectiveness of Brainspotting comes from what’s called the dual attunement frame. Within this frame, a relational attunement is established between the client and therapist. The safe, grounded, presence of the therapist creates a neurobiological attunement with the client’s internal, felt sense of what’s happening in their body and brain which then allows for the cultivation of a felt sense of safety in the client. This felt sense of safety offers the client a deeper sense of acceptance, compassion and freedom to explore their emotions and pain.
Eye Position and Visual Field
In a Brainspotting session, the therapist guides the client to find eye positions that activate or intensify emotional or physical sensations related to a traumatic experience, intense emotions or uncomfortable body sensation. Alternatively, resourcing or expansive spots can be found to promote calm, safety, expansiveness, creativity, enhanced performance and deep spiritual experiences.
Mindful and Body Awareness
While maintaining the identified eye position, the client pays attention to internal experiences—thoughts, emotions, and bodily sensations—facilitating deep processing and the integration of traumatic material.
Non-Verbal and Relational
Unlike traditional talk therapy, Brainspotting does not rely heavily on verbal communication, making it suitable for clients who struggle to express their experiences in words.
Integration with Other Modalities
Brainspotting can be combined with other therapies, such as expressive arts therapy and bilateral sound (music or nature sounds that alternate between ears), to enhance healing and support the parasympathetic nervous system.
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How Can Brainspotting Help?
Brainspotting is suitable for anyone seeking change at a deep, neurological level, particularly those who have not found relief through other forms of therapy. It is especially helpful for individuals with unresolved trauma, anxiety, phobias, addictions, depression, or somatic pain. It is also used by athletes, performers, and professionals to manage performance anxiety, enhance creative potential, and support expansive, spiritual experiences.
Brainspotting Therapy is recognized for its gentle yet powerful approach to processing trauma, offering significant relief and long-lasting healing for many clients.
What is Expansion Brainspotting?
Expansion Brainspotting is an innovative adaptation of traditional Brainspotting therapy, designed to access and amplify positive emotional states such as joy, peace, and resilience, as well as enhance performance potential. Unlike its therapeutic predecessor, which primarily focuses on processing trauma, Expansion Brainspotting emphasizes exploring positive states through specific “brainspots” and “expansion spots” identified by eye positions.
Core Principles:
Expansion Brainspotting evolved from Brainspotting, a method developed by David Grand in 2003. This approach utilizes the intricate brain-body connection by focusing on the visual field, mindfulness, and the attunement of the practitioner to the client. The method aims to move from the contraction associated with trauma to a state of expansion, fostering openness, self-worth, and leveraging inner resources for personal growth.
Visual Field Focus
Identifies eye positions that correspond with positive emotional states.
Mindfulness
Encourages present-moment awareness to enhance the experience.
Practitioner Attunement
Involves a deep connection between practitioner and client, enhancing the effectiveness of the session.
Key Applications:
Expansion Brainspotting can be applied in various domains to enhance well-being and performance:
Athletic and Creative Performance
Helps in achieving flow states and overcoming creative blocks.
Personal Development
Supports the processing of grief, anxiety, depression, and encourages spiritual growth.
Emotional Well-Being
Aids in building neural pathways for positive emotions such as gratitude, calm, and a sense of capability.
Spiritual Development
Deepens your connection to Source, Spirit, God, your Angels and ancestors as you connect with your God spot, Higher Self spot, Soul spot and more.
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What Is Bodyspotting Therapy?
Bodyspotting Therapy™ (BdSP) is a specialized form of Brainspotting that directly addresses physical pain and chronic pain by focusing attention on specific areas in the body where trauma, tension, or discomfort is being held, with the goal of supporting its release and healing.
Bodyspotting involves guiding a client to become aware of and focus on physical sensations in their body such as pain, stiffness or numbness that may be the result of unresolved or unconscious trauma. The Brainspotting therapist helps the client to maintain focus on their body while finding a relevant eye position (or “brainspot”) that resonates with the bodily sensation. This dual focus between a body sensation and corresponding eye position can facilitate deeper processing and release of traumatic experiences stored both in the brain and body, often bypassing cognitive defenses.
Brainspotting, including bodyspotting acknowledges the profound link between psychological trauma and physical pain. Trauma and emotional distress can be somatically encoded in the body, leading to chronic pain, tension, and other psychiatric or physiological symptoms. By targeting these somatic markers, bodyspotting can access trauma that might not be available to cognitive or verbal therapies alone.
Bodyspotting Therapy supports:
- Deeper access to trauma stored in the body, especially for those who struggle to verbalize their experiences.
- Reduction of physical symptoms like chronic pain or tension after engaging in these therapies.
- Greater self-awareness and empowerment as clients become attuned to bodily sensations and their emotional meaning.
- Holistic healing, as it integrates psychological and physical dimensions of trauma.
Bodyspotting in the Brainspotting framework offers unique therapeutic value, particularly for those whose pain and symptoms have psychological origins or are connected to traumatic memories held in the body.
Soulful Therapy can help you find healing and relief.
Meet Our Team
Meet the somatic trauma therapists at Soulful Therapy. Virtual appointments available across Ontario.
Lisa Cipparone
Registered Psychotherapist (Qualifying), Somatic Therapist, Brainspotting Therapist
- Adults 18+
- Virtual Sessions Available
- Days, Evenings and Weekends
- Soul Work
- Spiritual Journey
- Chronic Illness
- Inner Child Work
- And More!
Are you ready to start exploring your best self?
How To Get Started
Offering online therapy sessions to individuals across Ontario.
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ONLINE BRAINSPOTTING THERAPY ACROSS ONTARIO
Soulful Therapy
When you are ready, we are here to help you live in your highest potential.
